Los Angeles Dodgers veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw will not pitch in the playoffs, manager Dave Roberts said on Saturday.
Kershaw has been sidelined since the end of August due to a bone spur in his left big toe. Roberts announced the news on Kershaw after the latter was left off the team’s 26-man roster for its National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Game 1 is Saturday night.
“Where he’s at right now, physically, the foot, the toe, just is not cooperating,” Roberts said. “It’s actually getting worse. Yeah, this is it for Clayton for 2024.”
Kershaw, 36, made just seven starts this season, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 30 innings. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner and the 2014 NL MVP made his season debut July 25 after offseason shoulder surgery.
In 39 playoff appearances (32 starts), Kershaw is 13-13 with one save and a 4.49 ERA with 213 strikeouts in 194 1/3 innings.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (ankle) tested his injury in the field and in the batting cage and was cleared to play less than two hours before first pitch. He is batting third and playing first base.
Earlier in the day, Roberts was closely monitoring the situation.
“I talked to him this morning, there was still some soreness. So we’re trying to weigh the fact of being in there versus how effective he can be,” Roberts said of Freeman. … “That’s why I’m trying to wait as long as I can to see (Freddie) go through his pre-workout and prep, pregame stuff.”
Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (adductor) also is in the starting lineup for Game 1 on Saturday in Los Angeles.
In addition to Kershaw, right-handed reliever Joe Kelly (shoulder) also isn’t on the roster for the series against San Diego.
–Field Level Media
